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Hi, I have been reading Humber Travellers post re picking up his new van. We picked ours up on Sat, husband now informs me that he expected it to be more fully demonstrated i.e. boiler/heating and water systems - we did not really have this as no water in the van and I did not expect this anyway! Should this have been demonstrated i.e. filled up with H20, systems run through, boiler and heating demonstrated?? Could kill hubbie as he did not speak up, so worried that there will be big problems at w/end and we will have to take van back, can't get round to doing this before then as we both work and too dark in the evenings. This is ruining my day, feel sick with worry, please reassure me (if possible)
There really is so much to take in at that time and of course, your excited! Its a bit like going to se a doctor, first you need to know the questions and then you need someone extra to listen to the answers.
Apart from trying things out, one by one the only other piece of advice that I think might help is to work it up to full use slowly, ie first on the drive assuming its fairly level then off for a lunch stop and then just an overnight,,, and of course you can ask all sorts of questions on here. It does also help if the dealer is not too far away and you should be able to ask them
First of all you are hopefully not going to get a problem. But as a matter of interest we'll just mention what happened when we took over our motorhome from WCM.
Firstly we were told to allow at least 2 hours for the handover. Everything was filled/connected/charged. Every single item was gone through from opening and closing windows to spare wheels, jacking, towing etc etc. All in all the guy took the best part of 90 minutes going through the workings and scenarios. Even running through a site arriveal and hook up checklist.
We could have not asked for more. However we did take the opportunity to video the entire handover. (Often referenced if we are unsure of anything)
Then we were told to spend as much time as we like and give him a call when we are ready to proceed further. We spent half an hour going through everthing making notes of little things and videoing same. (By this I mean things that were not essential but might need rectification at next service)
The guy also asked if we wanted the systems drained back down after the inspection but we chose to leave it filled as we were eager to have a proper test run.
We went through the small things whiche were duly noted and some of which have already been corrected.
We were asked if we wanted the reversing part of the drive away done for us, we accepted as with a couple of hundred thousand pounds worth of motorhomes within a few metres this was not the place to practice. LOL
In short, video a handover as not only does this provide a useful resource (ie If you forget which switch was the water! LOL) It also is evidential of condition and verbally you can get the sales person saying 'Thats OK' we'lll sort that out at the first service.
Just An Idea!
______________________________________________________________ Kevin, Pauline, Jamie & Meegan
´Cookie´ Da Baby Bitch
:flag56: cobaltkoala :flag9:
"Lifes too short, just do it!"
http://www.cobaltkoala.com http://www.cftrust.org.uk
The complexities of your motorhome should have been gone through with a small tooth comb (remember them?) on your collection, can't for the life of me understand why this was not done.
Did you sign any sort of document saying that you had inspected it and all was to your satisfaction?
If the dealer is not too far away then I would suggest you take it back and get them to go through all important procedures required to operate the equipment. A 2 minute demo can save a lot of 'stumbling about in the dark' particularly if this is your first motorhome and you are unsure about anything.
Just my opinion.
I'm sure once you get sorted you'll have lots of enjoyment from your new motorhome. 'Good luck' and 'Bonne Voyage'
Thanks everyone, I cannot in all honesty say that I am now totally unworried (??grammar <-- is that even spelt correctly?). I cannot believe that after months of careful research and mental preparation - I fell at the first hurdle!!! I wasn't even overly excited about picking it up as I did not allow myself to believe that Brownhills would have everything right on the day and was fully expecting to leave it behind. We live in a small village just outside of Southampton city borders, Nursling is the name, if there is anyone local to us who would be willing to be on the other end of the phone this w/end if something goes wrong, I would be very grateful. Fortunately the Hymer instruction book is VERY easy to follow, typical german efficiency, every situation seems to be covered and all variations in equipment has its own little section with pictures. On the downside, Swindon is 1 and a half hours up the road - not exactly local!! and would require 2 of us to drive up there in 2 vehicles if we needed to take it back. Hubbie says that he is prepared to be firm with them but actually it seems that may not help if reading other posts re Brownhills are representative although we have had ok service from them so far. Am very disappointed that the handover was seemingly so substandard.
You don't say where your motorhome is, if you have got it on your drive then you can still fill the water even if with the aid of a torch.
As many of the members on here have posted, many of them spent their first night "away" on their driveways, that way armed with the no doubt huge folder of manuals for all of the appliances on board you can play and get the feel of the van before you venture out and about.
You will find out how the lights work, play about with the onboard heating and water and the other controls. If you are feeling really adventurous even cook dinner out there.
The only things that you really need light outside is connecting to EHU and finding the water inlet and the gas cupboard to turn on the gas, all of which can be done with a torch.
Obviously if you have the van in a storage area this may not be a possibility, but with a bit of patience and no expectations of getting it right first time all of the time it will be part of the adventure. Just pack your thermals and extra bedding and chances are you will not even need them.
Motorhoming is an adventure right from the start as you are finding out, first just finding the right van, then you find wonderful places to stay and enjoy, you make new friends, have freedom to go where and when you please, and with the help of all of the great people on here you learn loads.
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